Irrepressible Parker drives Charlton home to victory

Charlton Athletic 2 Southampton 1

Can Scott Parker be the new Roy Keane? Tonight he may pick up the award for the Professional Footballers' Association's young player of the year, last week he was warned about his disciplinary record and yesterday he set the standard as Charlton roused themselves from their spring torpor.

It may be a fanciful thought. Admittedly at four inches shorter and a stone lighter, Parker is not as intimidating as Keane. But, aged just 22, he imposes himself. He drives his team on and they look to him. It won't be long before he wears the captain's armband.

''The biggest compliment I can give him is that he missed the first 10 games of the season and we missed him badly," said Charlton's manager, Alan Curbishley. "When he is not playing we are off colour."

Charlton have been decidedly peaky of late. This win was their first in eight games, a run which has resulted in an alarming repeat of last season's slide. Curbishley was visibly relieved. "It was heroic stuff," he said, referring to the number of injuries his squad was struggling with. "From [Shaun] Bartlett through to Dean [Kiely]. They gave everything." Indeed they did.

For Southampton's manager, Gordon Strachan, there was an air of resignation. "The public got what they expected. We got beat away from home and Beattie scored," he said. It was the Saints' ninth away loss this season and the striker's 23rd goal. Strachan will pray his side travels better when they go to Cardiff for the FA Cup final – a game, he admitted, that is clearly on their minds. He won't be able to rest many of his first team before then. "The only way we can rotate players is to change the numbers on their backs," he said.

The game opened with a sense of purpose and it was Parker, despite carrying an injury, setting the benchmark. He brought Anders Svensson to a shuddering halt and then made 60 yards to force a save. Beattie roused himself. A deflected 25-yard drive, smartly tipped over by Dean Kiely, was followed by a low thump from the same range. His strike partner, Brett Ormerod, also looked lively but just as Southampton appeared to be gaining control, the momentum swung. It was Parker who intervened. He dispossessed Matthew Oakley and, as the ball was ferried forward, picked it up on the edge of the area, coolly drifted away from three defenders and rolled his shot wide of Paul Jones. An excellent goal.

Five minutes after the break, the lead was extended when Claus Jensen's free-kick found Kevin Lisbie's head. It was a poor goal to concede and, in search of redemption, Southampton central defender Michael Svensson immediately sent a hurried shot wide.

The entertainment value rose. Jason Euell's shot was blocked and Paul Konchesky went close. Little broke Southampton's way until, late on, Beattie calmly lobbed into the net after a hooked clearance fell to him. The clearance had been Parker's. He was unlucky then, but the day was his. Will it be next Saturday, when Charlton, of course, are at Old Trafford?

Charlton Athletic 2
Parker 32, Lisbie 50

Southampton 1
Beattie 90

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 25,894